The Hoyas aim for the NCAAs, led by John Thompson III
From Thompson Jr. to Thompson III and Ewing to Ewing Jr.; from the Westchester High School backcourt tandem of Brandon Bowman and Ashanti Cook to the Big East senior backcourt duo; from the comfort of home on the hilltop to culture shock at the southern abode of a loyal teammate: this year’s Georgetown Hoyas are much more than a 15-member team on the hard-court. They are family, members of the close-knit community that is Georgetown basketball.
“We really know what’s going on,” senior forward Brandon Bowman said of the seniors. “But we are more of a family, so everyone voices their opinion equally.”
The head of the household is the new patriarch of hilltop hoops, John Thompson III. Emerging from the shadow of his famous father and beginning a legacy of his own after leading the Hoyas last year to a 19-13 overall record and the NIT, the younger Thompson is becoming a “Pops” himself. With his first recruiting class ready to contribute this season, the coach has put his stamp on this year’s team.
“Last year it felt like it was my team,” Thompson said. “I pretty much approach things the same, but this is my team this year, in terms of having these freshmen.”
Like a father, Thompson has confidence in the maturation of his sons from one year to the next. But he acknowledges that improvement is not going to come easily, especially in an expanded Big East conference, where he knows the depth and quality that the league now boasts from top to bottom.
“We put a lot of weight on their shoulders last year,” he said of the team’s sophomores. “They have taken a very mature approach about how they have gone into preparing for this year. We are going to need them to make that progression for us to get better. But they are no different than the juniors who are now seniors.”
In terms of those seniors, Thompson has played an especially paternal role for Bowman, a preseason All-Big East Honorable Mention. The Hoyas’ 6’9’’ leader isn’t only coached by Thompson on the court, but in all aspects of life.
“It’s way more than basketball,” Bowman said of Thompson’s influence. “To me, he’s like a father figure. He’s always telling me about the little things, like sitting up straight. He’s constantly telling me things about life way beyond basketball. It’s like having a parent away from home.”
Bowman said Thompson played a role in his decision to withdraw his name from the NBA Draft, giving his input, but always conscious of the fact that the decision was wholly his player’s.
“He definitely voiced his opinion,” Bowman said. “But he made it clear that whatever decision I made, he would support it.”
This concern does not run one way, however. Thompson has earned the admiration of his peers in just over a year at the helm of Hoya basketball, and his quick success and coaching ability makes it easy for his players to give back that respect.
“I love Coach Thompson to death,” sophomore forward Jeff Green said. “He’s a great coach and I love playing for him.”
If Thompson is the father, the ballers themselves treat each other like brothers. After exceeding expectations last year, the team faltered down the stretch, essentially fumbling away an NCAA tournament bid. But this year’s squad have each other’s backs and realize all that they are trying to accomplish.
“We are expecting a lot and a lot of people are expecting a lot of us,” senior guard Ashanti Cook said. “We are not going to look at the past. This is a new year and hopefully we have better results than last year.”
Results will definitely improve with Thompson’s newest offspring. After two modest years at Indiana under Mike Davis, Patrick Ewing Jr. transferred to the hilltop, following in his father’s footsteps. Although not eligible to play until next season, Ewing has already had a substantial impact on his new Georgetown family by pushing his teammates in practice.
“Pat’s like another brother added to the team,” Green said. “He knows what we are trying to do. He knows his job is to push us and make us better for the season so when he comes in it’s the same deal. I love him to death.”
The first-year arrivals are also being added into the fold, learning the intricacies of Thompson’s Princeton offense. Forward Marc Egerson, guard Jessie Sapp, forward Tay Spann and guard Josh Thornton are “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed” according to their coach, but they are working hard on and off the court to gain knowledge and the respect of their teammates. The older players, meanwhile, are ready to help.
“We are making sure they fit well,” sophomore center Roy Hibbert said. “When we have off time we chill and help them learn parts of the offense.”
Green echoed Hibbert’s comments about his first-year teammates. “I love them all,” he said when asked to pick who would have the greatest impact on the floor this year. “I can’t pick just one.”
The Hoyas’ hard work ethic was ever-present on a trip to sophomore guard Jonathan Wallace’s homestead in Harvest, Ala. in August. Tyler Crawford and Green got more than they bargained for when they did some work on Wallace’s father’s beef cattle ranch.
“Everybody in the family was disciplined,” Crawford told GU Sports Information. “They all had different jobs, but at the same time they were working together.”
“Like a basketball team,” Green interjected.
While this year’s family is simply trying to do the same things as last year, “but better,” according to Bowman, a few things are different. The excitement surrounding basketball’s resurgence on the Hilltop has brought more fans into the reemerging Hoya basketball family. Over 1,000 student season ticket packages have already been sold, more than any other year since the Hoyas have played in the MCI Center, according to a University email.
“You walk around campus and everyone is excited, ecstatic,” Bowman said. “And we are too. We have put enough work in. There is nothing like stepping out on that court. I just can’t wait for everything to get rolling.”
Bowman is also more vocal this year than last.
“Coach would probably fight that comment,” he said. “But it’s true because I am [more vocal]. I’m kind of the older brother. He’s the baby,” motioning in the direction of Jeff Green.
Whoever is older or younger doesn’t matter. This year’s Hoyas are truly a family, with the capability to do amazing things because everyone is pulling their weight and working hard towards the same goal under the tutelage of their second father.
“No one is going to put more pressure on us than me,” Thompson said. “We probably did better last year than people expected. But I think that if this group comes together … we can be better than we were last year.”
All of his Hoya relatives certainly hope so.
